iPhone Is there a way to use your iPhone to access your home wifi network remotely

[iHavequestions]

--this way, I can control things on my own network for certain products that works over your own network only (such as Sonos) even if I am not home.

I suppose the alternate is to leave a computer on and remote connect into it either using another computer or phone but I just want to see what other options are available.

I know if there's a way, the answer is going to be long so if you could point me in the right direction to detailed step-by-step instructions, that would be awesome!

 

[Dave-Z]

What you want is a VPN server. Some more expensive routers have this, otherwise you can run one off a computer in your home and just forward ports on your router.

However, these are easy to setup for people who do this type of stuff a lot. For someone who has never done it before, you're probably in for a lot of sleepless nights.

Also, a lot of those appliance devices (smart cameras, Sonos, etc.) use various discoverability protocols and this happens at a different layer of the network stack (search OSI model for more details). VPNs typically connect at a different layer so often that discoverability doesn't happen. OpenVPN let's you pick which layer you connect, however the last time I checked it's not support on iOS due to Apple's restrictions.

 

[jgiannakas]

I use OpenVPN on my router to connect to my home network while away. The iPhone supports it - you just need to download the official openvpn app.

OpenVPN Connect by OpenVPN Technologies https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981?mt=8


I agree with the above though - it’s super simple to setup if you’ve got basic network knowledge. If not, you will struggle I’m afraid as you need to setup port forwarding, dyndns etc. Google here is your friend!

 

[BrianBaughn]

You should find out if the specific apps you want will actually work with a VPN connection before even starting to figure out how to get one set up.

I have an OpenVPN server on a router with DD-WRT firmware but I don't have Sonos or any connected cameras.

 

[charlituna]

I’m curious what you want to control that isn’t HomeKit compatible because even many Sonos are since the last update. Get a cheap 3rd gen Apple TV for your in house hub and iCloud links take care of the connection to your iPhone.

 

[forza1976]

Yes, if you have google WiFi for example.

See the attached image of my network. I swear by this with our 1924 house and the plaster walls. Full WiFi signal everywhere in the house.

 

[LTENETWORK]

Yes it is. First you need to open port for that.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Is it possible to access your home WiFi for surfing the internet and consuming media instead of using LTE or public WiFi when not at home without a VPN?

 

[Sackofnickels]

If you want to access your home network you need to find a way in. Services like Plex let you access your collection of movies and music, if you have it set up properly. If you want file access you can store the files you want to access on a NAS server and access them remotely using the NAS apps to set it up.

You can also use file sharing in MacOS, but I have not tried it. I prefer to have some sort of barrier between my actual computer and access to the network.
[doublepost=1536192831][/doublepost]

Is it possible to access your home WiFi for surfing the internet and consuming media instead of using LTE or public WiFi when not at home without a VPN?

Doesn't make sense to me. Even if you could use your home network to surf the net, you still need to connect your phone wherever you are at. That means LTE or public access. You are still using your data or a public internet connection to connect to your home internet connection. Seems redundant and I don't see a reason why anyone would want to do that, unless you wanted to mask your IP or something which you could just do with a VPN.

I did find this:

https://www.howtogeek.com/221001/how-to-set-up-your-own-home-vpn-server/

 

[BugeyeSTI]

If you want to access your home network you need to find a way in. Services like Plex let you access your collection of movies and music, if you have it set up properly. If you want file access you can store the files you want to access on a NAS server and access them remotely using the NAS apps to set it up.

You can also use file sharing in MacOS, but I have not tried it. I prefer to have some sort of barrier between my actual computer and access to the network.
[doublepost=1536192831][/doublepost]

Doesn't make sense to me. Even if you could use your home network to surf the net, you still need to connect your phone wherever you are at. That means LTE or public access. You are still using your data or a public internet connection to connect to your home internet connection. Seems redundant and I don't see a reason why anyone would want to do that, unless you wanted to mask your IP or something which you could just do with a VPN.

I did find this:

https://www.howtogeek.com/221001/how-to-set-up-your-own-home-vpn-server/

Thanks for the explanation, it does seem redundant..

 

[CavemanUK]

I use a raspberry pi with pivpn which works great. Can remote in using OpenVPN app on any device you’ve set up.

 

[Donfor39]

I use OpenVPN on my router to connect to my home network while away. The iPhone supports it - you just need to download the official openvpn app.

OpenVPN Connect by OpenVPN Technologies https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/openvpn-connect/id590379981?mt=8


I agree with the above though - it’s super simple to setup if you’ve got basic network knowledge. If not, you will struggle I’m afraid as you need to setup port forwarding, dyndns etc. Google here is your friend!

Is that safe to try, in terms of not getting hacked or neighbours using my home network